Abstract
In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, we compared the sociodemographic characteristics, social networks, health-promoting behavior, and the health-related quality of life of older Korean adults living in South Korea to those of older Korean adult immigrants living in the USA. A total of 354 older adults, aged 65 years or older, participated. Data were collected through self-directed questionnaires, and analyzed using a two way analysis of variance, t-tests, χ2-tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The association between four sociodemographic characteristics and health-related quality of life was significantly different between the two groups. For the older Korean adults living in South Korea, positive correlations existed between a measure of their social networks and both health-promoting behavior and health-related quality of life. For the older Korean immigrants, the findings revealed a positive correlation only between social networks and health-promoting behavior. The study findings support the important association social networks can have with health-related quality of life, and their possible relationship to health-promoting behaviors of older Korean adults. We suggest that health policy-makers and healthcare providers develop comprehensive programs that are designed to improve older adults’ social networks.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 79-88 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Nursing and Health Sciences |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
Keywords
- Health-promoting behavior
- health-related quality of life
- older adult
- social networks